Vararam vs. Blackwing
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
Originally Posted by mcv
The C5 Honker price is $490. But you don't have to buy a "performance air bridge". The Honker eliminates the air bridge. C6 is $390 due to fewer required components. GM already eliminates the air bridge on C6.
With all due respect, all CAI is not created the same. Reducing inlet air temperature is very important, but the airflow path is at least just as important. As fluid dynamics suggests, our engineers found that the most direct path generates the least turbulence and flow restriction, ultimately providing more available air mass to the engine. Simplifying the flow path, maximizing radii around bends, and eliminating the restrictive "air bridge" were all primary objectives when the Honker was designed for the C5. In addition, filter element design and ease of maintenance were also addressed in the Honker's development.
Again I appreciate your opinion, but many of us have spent a lot more than $490 to bolt-on 18 hp (That's what our dyno testing revealed on a stock LS1, SAE-corrected). Personally, I happen to think that $490 for 18 hp is an excellent dollars to horsepower ratio.
With all due respect, all CAI is not created the same. Reducing inlet air temperature is very important, but the airflow path is at least just as important. As fluid dynamics suggests, our engineers found that the most direct path generates the least turbulence and flow restriction, ultimately providing more available air mass to the engine. Simplifying the flow path, maximizing radii around bends, and eliminating the restrictive "air bridge" were all primary objectives when the Honker was designed for the C5. In addition, filter element design and ease of maintenance were also addressed in the Honker's development.
Again I appreciate your opinion, but many of us have spent a lot more than $490 to bolt-on 18 hp (That's what our dyno testing revealed on a stock LS1, SAE-corrected). Personally, I happen to think that $490 for 18 hp is an excellent dollars to horsepower ratio.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
FWIW I installed the Vararam , I logged my IAT before the Vararam install and after. BIG difference. IAT were VERY close to ambient. In simple terms that means more power with colder air. MAP also changed with the installation hence I also can vouch for the "ram" effect. You will notice a SOTP difference. I installed a dual cone K&N on my earlier C5. The vararam is MUCH better.
Has anyone done a Vararam vs. Honker test ? Very Interested to know the results of that one.
Has anyone done a Vararam vs. Honker test ? Very Interested to know the results of that one.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Ok, here is a silly question. The Blackwing sucks it's air from the engine compartment. The Vararam get air blown in from where the fog lights are. The block out is replaced with parts that force air into the Vararam at higher speeds. Makes sense for both units. I don't know enough about the Callaway Honker unit ... But how does that unit work? CAI ... but were does it draw it's air from?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 993
Likes: 0
From: PA
Originally Posted by mean lx
Where can you buy a Varram air intake system and how much do they go for? After purchasing my '02 vette, I don't think I'll have much money left over from the paper route to do too many mods! 
Does LG sell them and if so is this the ram air system that hooks up to the two fog light holes or something like that? James
I just checked the LG website and I did infact see that they sell the Varram ram air system. Does anyone else have documented track times from before and after installation. I am more concerned about increase in MPH than a drop in ET, as the previous refers to HP generated whereas the latter is just a function of hooking up the tires. Thanks, James
Does LG sell them and if so is this the ram air system that hooks up to the two fog light holes or something like that? JamesI just checked the LG website and I did infact see that they sell the Varram ram air system. Does anyone else have documented track times from before and after installation. I am more concerned about increase in MPH than a drop in ET, as the previous refers to HP generated whereas the latter is just a function of hooking up the tires. Thanks, James
St. Jude Partner since 89
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: Lebanon, TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by C5LOU
What kind of gains do you see on a Z06? I like the Honker design because you get the CAI effect and don't block off the incoming air to cool the engine bay like the Vararam does. $490 is pretty steep though.....
St. Jude Partner since 89
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: Lebanon, TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Cruisin'
Ok, here is a silly question. The Blackwing sucks it's air from the engine compartment. The Vararam get air blown in from where the fog lights are. The block out is replaced with parts that force air into the Vararam at higher speeds. Makes sense for both units. I don't know enough about the Callaway Honker unit ... But how does that unit work? CAI ... but were does it draw it's air from?
St. Jude Partner since 89
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: Lebanon, TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by mcv
The C5 Honker...
One question that I've wondered about however - is the air around the shroud opening where the Honker feeds hotter than say the air in front of the bumper when you are sitting in traffic or staging at the track. My first thought is that it would be due to the vicinity of the radiator but that's just a thought and may be way off. Any information on this (testing with IAT's)?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 1
From: Branford Connecticut
Originally Posted by Nithros
Good information and there is no doubt in my mind that this is a quality piece. I didn't choose it purely due to a nitrous path I'm planning.
One question that I've wondered about however - is the air around the shroud opening where the Honker feeds hotter than say the air in front of the bumper when you are sitting in traffic or staging at the track. My first thought is that it would be due to the vicinity of the radiator but that's just a thought and may be way off. Any information on this (testing with IAT's)?
One question that I've wondered about however - is the air around the shroud opening where the Honker feeds hotter than say the air in front of the bumper when you are sitting in traffic or staging at the track. My first thought is that it would be due to the vicinity of the radiator but that's just a thought and may be way off. Any information on this (testing with IAT's)?
Regarding air temperature at the bumper vs. at the Honker inlet, if coolant temperature is high enough to have an effect on ambient air in front of the radiator, then the cooling fans have already switched on. When the fans are on, fresh air is being drawn in from "outside" of the car to the area in front of and through the radiator.
Also, GM did a great job of configuring the front end such that the radiator is supplied with ambient air as soon as the car starts to move, with or without the fans operating. The faster the car's speed, the more air is dircted into this area. We performed tests monitoring pressure inside the Honker, just in front of the MAFS. With all other variables controlled, we found that the air pressure inside the Honker duct is directly proportional to vehicle speed, unlike the OEM piece that gets inlet air from under the hood. We published test results that supported this for the C6 Z06, the report is copied in our web site: Honker Z06 test report
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 161
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by mcv
We haven't performed any specific testing to measure IAT using Vararam.
Regarding air temperature at the bumper vs. at the Honker inlet, if coolant temperature is high enough to have an effect on ambient air in front of the radiator, then the cooling fans have already switched on. When the fans are on, fresh air is being drawn in from "outside" of the car to the area in front of and through the radiator.
Regarding air temperature at the bumper vs. at the Honker inlet, if coolant temperature is high enough to have an effect on ambient air in front of the radiator, then the cooling fans have already switched on. When the fans are on, fresh air is being drawn in from "outside" of the car to the area in front of and through the radiator.
1. The air being drawn in is cooler through the Vararam then the Honker.
2. The Vararam does have more curves and bends then the Honker.
3. No comparison of filters, the Honker is much better.
4. No comparison of manufacturing quality, Honker wins hands down.
5. The Vararam is almost half the price of the Honker.
Considering these conclusions, The Vararam will outsell the Honker by a huge margin. It accomplishes all the performance enhancements racers are looking for, better then the Honker.
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
OK, flame away
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
Originally Posted by mcv
We haven't performed any specific testing to measure IAT using Vararam.
Regarding air temperature at the bumper vs. at the Honker inlet, if coolant temperature is high enough to have an effect on ambient air in front of the radiator, then the cooling fans have already switched on. When the fans are on, fresh air is being drawn in from "outside" of the car to the area in front of and through the radiator.
Also, GM did a great job of configuring the front end such that the radiator is supplied with ambient air as soon as the car starts to move, with or without the fans operating. The faster the car's speed, the more air is dircted into this area. We performed tests monitoring pressure inside the Honker, just in front of the MAFS. With all other variables controlled, we found that the air pressure inside the Honker duct is directly proportional to vehicle speed, unlike the OEM piece that gets inlet air from under the hood. We published test results that supported this for the C6 Z06, the report is copied in our web site: Honker Z06 test report
Regarding air temperature at the bumper vs. at the Honker inlet, if coolant temperature is high enough to have an effect on ambient air in front of the radiator, then the cooling fans have already switched on. When the fans are on, fresh air is being drawn in from "outside" of the car to the area in front of and through the radiator.
Also, GM did a great job of configuring the front end such that the radiator is supplied with ambient air as soon as the car starts to move, with or without the fans operating. The faster the car's speed, the more air is dircted into this area. We performed tests monitoring pressure inside the Honker, just in front of the MAFS. With all other variables controlled, we found that the air pressure inside the Honker duct is directly proportional to vehicle speed, unlike the OEM piece that gets inlet air from under the hood. We published test results that supported this for the C6 Z06, the report is copied in our web site: Honker Z06 test report
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by RstyNutz
Improve the Blackwing air flow by cutting out the back of the foglights and install ZO6 screens. My $.02 If anyone already has a Blackwing or non-Vararam system, you could also get some laundry dryer ducting and route it from the Z-screens right into the air filter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 1
From: Branford Connecticut
Originally Posted by C5LOU
Any chance of a "Spring Sale" or a group purchase? I think the Honker is the way to go, but at $200 over the Vararam it's hard to justify.....
Regarding the price difference, the C5 Honker eliminates the air bridge.
High performance air bridges or "power ducts" are priced from $150 to $300, depending on material and configuration.
St. Jude Partner since 89
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: Lebanon, TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by LV Vette
I don’t want to start any more problems with which CAI is best, but you state that if the coolant temp is high enough to start the fans, then fresh air is being drawn in from the outside. First of all, most drag racers are busy in the staging area to do what ever they can to cool the engine, i.e.: open hood, ice box or whatever, so hopefully the engine is cool enough as to not turn on the fans. Secondly, the Honker draws in air from the bottom of the front of the car where the temperature is higher from the ground and from behind the radiator after the heat transfer has taken place to the coolant, even when moving. Why don’t you perform a test to measure IAT using the Vararam. In my humble opinion, I draw the following conclusions:
1. The air being drawn in is cooler through the Vararam then the Honker.
2. The Vararam does have more curves and bends then the Honker.
3. No comparison of filters, the Honker is much better.
4. No comparison of manufacturing quality, Honker wins hands down.
5. The Vararam is almost half the price of the Honker.
Considering these conclusions, The Vararam will outsell the Honker by a huge margin. It accomplishes all the performance enhancements racers are looking for, better then the Honker.
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
OK, flame away
1. The air being drawn in is cooler through the Vararam then the Honker.
2. The Vararam does have more curves and bends then the Honker.
3. No comparison of filters, the Honker is much better.
4. No comparison of manufacturing quality, Honker wins hands down.
5. The Vararam is almost half the price of the Honker.
Considering these conclusions, The Vararam will outsell the Honker by a huge margin. It accomplishes all the performance enhancements racers are looking for, better then the Honker.
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
OK, flame away
Last edited by Nithros; Mar 16, 2006 at 07:34 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 1
From: Branford Connecticut
Originally Posted by C5LOU
What kind of gains do you see on a Z06? I like the Honker design because you get the CAI effect and don't block off the incoming air to cool the engine bay like the Vararam does. $490 is pretty steep though.....
With an '03 Z06 engine, we recorded an increase of 20.8 bhp (SAE-corrected), on the engine dyno. The only change was installing a production Honker.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
I am not an engineer so don't flame me too hard on this if I am wrong. But are you sure that bringing ambient air from the fog light shroud area directly to the intake would not cool just as well as letting it flow into the under hood area from the fog light openings? 
